Suozzis touch revitalizes Stango's

THE SUOZZI TOUCH

Tom and Helene Suozzi may not be making the chicken Parm or the pizza, but the political couple has been instrumental in renovating and relaunching Glen Cove's (and probably Long Island's) oldest Italian restaurant, Stango's.

Now called Stango's at the Orchard, the restaurant opened Tuesday. Wood tables and chairs, red leather banquettes, red checked cloths and neutral gray-brown carpet define the dining room. What's especially striking is a large photo of original owners Frank and Concetta Stango, surrounded by pictures of the rest of the clan.

In charge of the kitchen is chef Gabriel Massaro; Phil Labozzetta is the pizza guy. On the menu: fried calamari ($10.95), linguine with red or white clam sauce ($13.95), Stella's lasagna ($11.95) and Stella's pork chops with vinegar peppers and broccoli rabe ($19.95) -- Tom Suozzi's favorite -- as well as pizza ($9.95 individual, $12.95 regular).

Mini-galleries are spread throughout the restaurant; there's one devoted to veterans, another to the local church and yet another to the Suozzi family. Suozzi is a former Nassau County executive and is once again running for the job.

Stango's at the Orchard is at 19 Grove St., Glen Cove, 516-671-2389.

SMALL SPOT, BIG NAME

Wild Rocket has liftoff. The little sandwich shop, with seating for 12, has opened in downtown Huntington. It's under the umbrella of the Reststar Hospitality Group, which also owns Bistro Cassis and Cafe Buenos Aires in Huntington, as well as Brasserie Cassis in Plainview, Bistro Citron in Roslyn and La P'tite Framboise in Port Washington.

The menu was devised by consulting chef Marc Anthony Bynum, a past Newsday All-Star Chef who currently oversees Cue 9 in Levittown and was executive chef at Tellers American Chophouse in Islip.

"Wild Rocket is our take on fresh food," Bynum said, naming as signature items a sea spring salad of mandarin oranges, Kalamata olives, feta, mint leaves and oven-roasted shrimp over wild rocket (also known as arugula) with a citrus vinaigrette ($11), a Vietnamese banh mi sandwich of pâté with pickled vegetables, grilled chicken, spicy mayo and cilantro on a baguette ($9).

Wild Rocket is at 376 New York Ave., Huntington, 631-923-0919.

WILL NEWCOMER HAVE STAYING POWER?

Fuego Picante has made its debut in the East Meadow space that had been a revolving door for such restaurants as Kansas City Smokehouse, RUB BBQ, Long Fin, BeSi, Ruby's Famous BBQ and Louis & Marxx.

The new contender will offer Mexican food with a barbecue component. On the menu are smoked short rib nachos ($11), carne asada tacos ($21), hickory smoked BBQ half chicken ($17) and Mexi-shrimp in a roasted tomatillo-chile butter sauce ($23).

Fuego Picante is at 2367 Hempstead Tpke., East Meadow, 516-731-3333.